The pair are certainly no strangers to each other having met in the last eight of an Asian Cup at the past four editions of the tournament.
Ghotbi, meanwhile, is well acquainted with the Taeguk Warriors having spent a total of five years with the national team, first as a match analyst and then as assistant coach. And the 46-year-old believes his understanding of the South Korean players will give Iran the edge.
"I believe that on a technical, tactical and psychological side we have the advantage because of my long time working with the Korean national team,'' Ghotbi said. "I have a very deep love of Korean football but I have a job to do, which is to win and get my team to the next round.''
Iran have been impressive at the tournament so far having finished top of Group D with three wins from three. Ghotbi even had the luxury of being able to make a raft of changes to his starting XI in their final group game against the United Arab Emirates and still they emerged with a 3-0 victory.
And the former Persepolis boss will send his players out with instructions to continue to play as they did during the group stage.
"What we will try to do is play organised as always, with the ambition to find space and score goals,'' he said. "At the same time we need to have an organised defence and not give space to the Korean team.
"We have shown in the last match that regardless of the starting XI we are always organised and don't give many chances away.''
For South Korea, the match could possibly be the last for captain Park Ji-Sung with the Manchester United midfielder believed to considering calling time on his international career after the Asian Cup. But coach Cho Kwang-Rae is optimistic his side will not be heading home just yet.
"It will be an important game for us but also a difficult one,'' he said. "We have studied their team well and I am sure the players will give their best to get to the next round. I believe we will also show our fans that we are progressing as time goes by.''